Spring Creek made a second-half run at the big lead Princeton’s girls basketball team had built in the first half but it wasn’t enough to offset a lead that grew to as much as 23 points. The Bulldogs emerged with a 53-38 victory.

Princeton coach Marty Gurganus attributed the Gators’ success in the second half to their improved production against the Bulldogs’ pressing defense. Amber Buchan hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers forcing an adjustment by the Princeton defense.

The Bulldogs (6-7 overall, 3-1 Carolina 1A Conference) went to a box-and-one on Buchan with Jacklyn Farrior marking up Buchan and her four teammates playing what amounted to a 2-2 zone.

“We hadn’t practice that so I was really proud of how well the girls adjusted to it on the fly,” Gurganus said. “Jackie did a great job. We held Buchan scoreless in the fourth quarter.”

Charley Cox led Princeton with 24 points, while Savanna Massengill had 23 points and 11 rebounds despite battling an illness.

“Charley played her best game of the season,” Gurganus said. “The two of them gave us a real spark.”